Torpids 1913

BUMPS CHART

STANDINGS Start Finish Pos College Pts Pts College 1 Magdalen 44 54 Magdalen 2 Christ Church 38 40 Christ Church 3 St John's 35 38 St John's 4 New College 34 32 New College 5 Balliol 34 28 Balliol 6 Corpus Christi 19 20 Trinity 7 Trinity 18 15 Brasenose 8 University 16 11 Pembroke 9 Brasenose 14 10 Corpus Christi 10 Oriel 9 9 University 11 Pembroke 8 7 Worcester 12 Keble 7 7 Keble 13 Merton 6 7 Exeter 14 Exeter 6 6 Oriel 15 Lincoln 4 5 Queen's 16 Worcester 4 4 Merton 17 Hertford 3 3 Hertford 18 Queen's 3 3 Wadham 19 St Edmund Hall 3 3 Lincoln 20 Jesus 2 2 Jesus 21 Wadham 2 2 St Edmund Hall 22 St Catherine's 1 2 St Catherine's

STATISTICS College All Crews [ ]=rank Crews Bps Avg Magdalen 2[ 2] 6[ 1] 3.00[ 5] Worcester 1[11] 6[ 1] 6.00[ 1] Exeter 2[ 2] 5[ 3] 2.50[ 7] St Catherine's 1[11] 5[ 3] 5.00[ 2] Wadham 1[11] 5[ 3] 5.00[ 2] Queen's 1[11] 4[ 6] 4.00[ 4] St John's 2[ 2] 4[ 6] 2.00[ 8] Pembroke 1[11] 3[ 8] 3.00[ 5] New College 2[ 2] 1[ 9] 0.50[ 9] Hertford 1[11] 0[10] 0.00[10] Jesus 1[11] 0[10] 0.00[10] Brasenose 2[ 2] -1[12] -0.50[12] Keble 2[ 2] -1[12] -0.50[12] Trinity 2[ 2] -1[12] -0.50[12] St Edmund Hall 1[11] -2[15] -2.00[16] Christ Church 3[ 1] -2[15] -0.67[15] Oriel 1[11] -3[17] -3.00[17] Lincoln 1[11] -4[18] -4.00[19] Merton 1[11] -5[19] -5.00[21] Balliol 2[ 2] -6[20] -3.00[17] Corpus Christi 1[11] -6[20] -6.00[22] University 2[ 2] -8[22] -4.00[19]

• 6 days: Thu 13th – Wed 19th Feb, 1913

• The Times Fri 14th Feb

  The Torpid Races were begun at Oxford yesterday in cold weather. The Prince of Wales [later Edward VIII] ran along the towing path, cheering his college [Magdalen] crew. Thirty three crews have entered in the three divisions, two more than last year. The new boats are St. Catherine's and Exeter II.

  The crews in the third division started in the following order :— Hertford, Queen's, St. Edmund Hall, Jesus, Brasenose II, University II, Wadham, Keble II, Christ Church III, Trinity II, St. Catherine's, and Exeter II. Jesus bumped St Edmund Hall near the boathouse; Wadham bumped University II at the Red Post. Christ Church III were hard pressed by Trinity II, who were driven along by St. Catherine's. At the Ferry the three crews were very close together, and Trinity II claimed to have bumped Christ Church III, and St. Catherine's to have bumped Trinity II. At a meeting of the committee the claim of St. Catherine's was allowed.

  The crews in the second division started in the following order:— Magdalen II, New College II, Oriel, Pembroke, Balliol II, Merton, St. John's II, Keble, Exeter, Lincoln, Worcester, and Hertford. Merton succeeded in getting within a few feet of Balliol II at the Boathouse, but at the critical moment one of the Merton crew caught a crab and this enabled Balliol II to get away. The mishap disorganized the Merton crew and, after an exciting race, they were bumped by St. John's II on the post. Worcester bumped Lincoln at the Willows.

  The crews in the first division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Balliol, New College, Christ Church, Corpus Christi, Trinity, Christ Church II, University, Brasenose, and Magdalen II. Christ Church bumped New College approaching the Long Bridges; Trinity bumped Corpus Christi near the same spot; Magdalen II. bumped Brasenose soon after passing Rough's boathouse.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Daily Telegraph Fri 14th Feb

  In weather quite wintry the torpid races were commenced at Oxford yesterday. The Prince of Wales was amongst those who ran up with his college eight. The racing was interesting, and in the Third Division so close that a meeting had to be held to decide whether Christ Church III had been bumped by Trinity II or the latter by St. Catherine's. The verdict was in favour of St. Catherine's. Exeter [II] might have claimed two places for an over-bump, but declined to do so. The First Division boats rowed in a fog, and little could be seen of them. Magdalen easily retained their place at the head of the river, but there were three bumps in this division, Christ Church running into New College, Corpus falling to Trinity, and Magdalen II catching Brasenose very easily.

  In the Third Division Hertford and Queen's held their places, but St. Edmund's Hall were bumped by Jesus College before reaching the boathouses [sic]. University II had to succumb to Wadham, and then came the struggle between Christ Church III, Trinity II, and St. Catherine's already referred to. In the Second Division Magdalen II, New College II, Oriel, Pembroke, and Balliol II finished in their starting order; but St. John's caught Merton within a dozen yards of the post, Keble being half a length away at the time. Lincoln were overtaken by Worcester, and Hertford paddled up.

• The Times Sat 15th Feb

  The Torpid races were continued at Oxford yesterday.

  The crews in the Third Division started in the following order :— Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, St. Edmund Hall, Brasenose II, Wadham, University II, Keble II, Christ Church III, St. Catherine's, Trinity II, and Exeter II. Wadham bumped Brasenose II under the Willows; St. Catherine's bumped Christ Church III at the Corporation Ferry; Exeter II bumped Trinity II at the Weirs Bridge.

  The crews in the Second Division started in the following order :— Brasenose, New College II, Oriel, Pembroke, Balliol II, St. John's II, Merton, Keble, Exeter, Worcester, Lincoln, and Hertford. Pembroke bumped Oriel at the Red Post; St. John's II bumped Balliol II at the Boathouse; Keble bumped Merton at the Cherwell; Worcester bumped Exeter near the Long Bridges.

  The crews in the First Division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Balliol, Christ Church, New College, Trinity, Corpus Christi, Christ Church II, University, Magdalen II, and Brasenose. Christ Church bumped Balliol at the New Cut; Christ Church II bumped Corpus Christi at the Long Bridges; Magdalen II bumped University at the Corporation Ferry.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Daily Telegraph Sat 15th Feb

  Better weather than on the opening day favoured the Torpids yesterday. In Division 3 the racing was singularly uninteresting. There was not a single close finish, and the three bumps recorded all took place below the Red Post. St. Catherine's, who were awarded the disputed bump overnight, again went up, at the expense of Christchurch III; Wadham caught Brasenose II, and Exeter II disposed of Trinity II.

  Bumps were plentiful in the Second Division, only the first, Brasenose, and last boats, Hertford, rowing through. Oriel were caught by Pembroke, after a capital race, and Balliol II struggled on to the boathouse before being caught by St. John's. Despite bad steering, Keble bumped Merton at the Cherwell. Exeter proved no match for Worcester.

  In the First Division Magdalen held their position at the head, though St. John's got closer than on the opening afternoon. Christ Church made short work of Balliol, and should they overtake St. John's to-day it seems quite likely that Magdalen will lose the headship. New College only kept away from Trinity by less than a length, the pair furnishing the race of the afternoon. Corpus early fell to Christchurch [II], and University had to lower their colours to Magdalen II at the Ferry.

• The Times Mon 17th Feb

  The Torpid races were continued at Oxford on Saturday in unpleasant weather.

  The crews in the Third Division started in the following order :— Hertford, Queen's, Jesus, St. Edmund Hall, Wadham, Brasenose II, University II, Keble II, St. Catherine's, Christ Church III, Exeter II, and Trinity II. Queen's bumped Hertford opposite the Exeter College barge; Wadham bumped St. Edmund Hall under the Willows; St. Catherine's bumped Keble II near the Long Bridges; Exeter II bumped Christ Church III soon after passing the Red Post.

  The crews in the Second Division started in the following order :— Brasenose, New College II, Pembroke, Oriel, St. John's II, Balliol II, Keble, Merton, Worcester, Exeter, Lincoln, and Queen's. New College II bumped Brasenose at the Cherwell,; St. John's II bumped Oriel at the New Cut; Keble bumped Balliol II near the same place; Worcester bumped Merton at the Corporation Ferry.

  The crews in the First Division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Christ Church, Balliol, New College, Trinity, Christ Church II, Corpus Christi, Magdalen II, University, and New College II. Trinity bumped New College soon after passing the Freewater Stone; Magdalen II bumped Corpus Christi near the Long Bridges; New College II bumped University at the University College barge.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Daily Telegraph Mon 17th Feb

  Saturday's racing at Oxford was the best, so far, since the Torpids commenced. In the third division a great race was witnessed between the two top boats, Hertford and Queen's, the latter making their bump opposite the Exeter College barge. Jesus College paddled up as St. Edmund Hall fell victim to Wadham very early. Keble II went down a place at the instance of St. Catherine's, whose third success it was. Christ Church III and Exeter put up a fine race, the latter effecting their bump at the Christ Church Barge.

  In Division 2 Brasenose, who had twice rowed up head of the division, fell to New College II, after a capital struggle, at the Cherwell. St. John's II caught Oriel at the Red Post, where Balliol II were bumped by Keble. Worcester very quickly overtook Merton, and the others rowed up.

  The first division yielded a spirited contest between the head boat of the river, Magdalen, and St. John's, the former escaping by a third of a length. Christ Church and Balliol rowed up; but New, after a good struggle, were bumped by Trinity, in the Gut. Christ Church II paddled over, as Corpus fell easy victims to Magdalen II. New II caught University after a ding-dong race, at the University College barge.

• The Times Tue 18th Feb

  The Torpid Races were continued at Oxford yesterday in cold weather.

  The crews in the third division started in the following order :— Queen's, Hertford, Jesus, Wadham, St. Edmund Hall, Brasenose II, University II, St. Catherine's, Keble II, Exeter II, Christ Church III, and Trinity II. St. Catherine's bumped University II just before reaching the Long Bridges; Exeter II bumped Keble II near the New Cut.

  The crews in the second division started in the following order :— University, Brasenose, Pembroke, St. John's II, Oriel, Keble, Balliol II, Worcester, Merton, Exeter, Lincoln, and Queen's. Brasenose bumped University opposite the Pembroke Barge; Worcester bumped Balliol II at the Corporation Ferry; Exeter bumped Merton at the Boathouse; Queen's bumped Lincoln at the Freewater Stone.

  The crews in the first division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Christ Church, Balliol, Trinity, New College, Christ Church II, Magdalen II, Corpus Christi, New College II, and Brasenose. Magdalen II bumped Christ Church II soon after passing the Corporation Ferry; New College II bumped Corpus Christi at the Weirs Bridge.

  The races will be continued to-day.

• The Daily Telegraph Tue 18th Feb

  A raw north-easterly wind, accompanied by showers, handicapped the crews diring the torpids races at Oxford yesterday. The third division boats provided no race of great interest. Queen's, who secured the headship of the division on Saturday, never had to extend themselves, whilst Hertford, Jesus College, and Wadham kept their places without effort. St. Catherine's continued their winning career at the expense of University II, and Exeter II went up again, their victims being Keble II.

  There was no lack of excitement whilst the second division crews were racing. It commenced with the two head boats, University and Brasenose, the latter making their bump after a great race which lasted to the Pembroke barge. Pembroke only just escaped St. John's II, and Oriel finished about a yard ahead of Keble. Worcester continued on the up line by catching Balliol II early in the race, and Exeter recovered the place they lost to Worcester on Saturday evening by overtaking Merton at the boathouse. Queen's caused Lincoln to fall into last place by catching the latter at the Freewater Stone.

  For the fourth time Magdalen rowed up head of the first division, St. John's never looked likely to catch them. Indeed, St. John's nearly fell to Christ Church, who got within two or three yards of them. The next three boats finished well apart; but Magdalen II bumped Christ Church II in the Gut; whilst New College [II] easily accounted for Corpus.

• The Times Wed 19th Feb

  Although the weather was fine for the torpid races at Oxford yesterday, a keen east wind made the conditions very unpleasant at the riverside. There were no fewer than 11 bumps.

  The crews in the third division started in the following order :— Lincoln, Hertford, Jesus, Wadham, St. Edmund Hall, Brasenose II, St. Catherine's, University II, Exeter II, Keble II, Christ Church III, and Trinity II. Hertford bumped Lincoln soon after passing the Corporation Ferry; Wadham bumped Jesus opposite the Christ Church Barge; St. Catherine's bumped Brasenose II approaching the Long Bridges; Exeter II bumped University II under the Willows.

  The crews in the second division started in the following order :— Brasenose, University, Pembroke, St. John's II, Oriel, Keble, Worcester, Balliol II, Exeter, Merton, Queen's, and Hertford. Pembroke bumped University just before reaching the boathouse; Worcester bumped Keble at the Long Bridges; Exeter bumped Balliol II soon after passing the Corporation Ferry; Queen's bumped Merton near the Freewater Stone.

  The crews in the first division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Christ Church, Balliol, Trinity, New College, Magdalen II, Christ Church II, New College II, Corpus Christi, and Brasenose. Magdalen II bumped New College under the Willows; New College II bumped Christ Church II just on the post; Brasenose bumped Corpus Christi at the boathouse.

  The races will be brought to a close to-day.

• The Daily Telegraph Wed 19th Feb

  The Torpid races were continued at Oxford yesterday in favourable weather. No fewer than eleven bumps were recorded in three divisions, and in the third the headship again underwent a change, Hertford recovering the place they lost to Queen's by overtaking Lincoln, who had come down some distance from the Second Division. Wadham bumped Jesus College after a very fine race, whilst St. Catherine's caught Brasenose II very early. University II had to lower their flag to Exeter II, whilst Keble II only just escaped Christ Church III.

  In the Second Division the racing was rather uninteresting, the whole of the bumps being made below the boathouse. Brasenose, University, Pembroke, St. John's II, and Oriel finished in their starting order; but Worcester, who are the pick of the lower boats, added another bump to their record at the expense of Keble. Exeter gained another place by catching Balliol II, and Queen's also went up again, their victims being Merton.

  Of the First Division boats Magdalen continued at the head, the second boat St. John's being again hard pressed by Christ Church. New College I went down before Magdalen II, and as New College II continued their victorious career at the expense of Christ Church II, the New boats will be contending against each other to-day. Corpus lost another place — to Brasenose. The races conclude to-day.

• The Times Thu 20th Feb

  The Torpid races were brought to a close at Oxford yesterday.

  The crews in the third division started in the following order :— Hertford, Lincoln, Wadham, Jesus, St. Edmund Hall, St. Catherine's, Brasenose II, Exeter II, University II, Keble II, Christ Church III, and Trinity II. Only one bump took place, Wadham overtaking Lincoln at the Red Post.

  The crews in the second division started in the following order :— Corpus Christi, Pembroke, University, St. John's II, Oriel, Worcester, Keble, Exeter, Balliol II, Queen's, Merton, and Hertford. Pembroke bumped Corpus Christi at the New Cut; St. John's II bumped University near the Red Post; Worcester bumped Oriel approaching the Long Bridges; Queen's bumped Balliol II at the Corporation Ferry.

  The crews in the first division started in the following order :— Magdalen, St. John's, Christ Church, Balliol, Trinity, Magdalen II, New College, New College II, Christ Church II, Brasenose, and Pembroke. Magdalen had no difficulty in retaining the headship of the river, and passed the flag rather more than a length in front of St. John's. Magdalen II bumped Trinity opposite the New College Barge; Brasenose bumped Christ Church II at the Brasenose Barge.

  During the six days' racing 55 bumps were made. Magdalen II. and Worcester made six bumps each, Wadham and St. Catherine's five each, New College II, St. John's II, Queen's, and Exeter II four each, and Pembroke three. Corpus Christi lost six places, University, Balliol II, and Merton five each, Lincoln four, and New College, Oriel, and University II three each.

  The following are the names and weights of the Magdalen crew [listed below].

• The Daily Telegraph Thu 20th Feb

  The Oxford University torpids races concluded yesterday in delightful weather. Probably the crews, with a few exceptions, were not up to the average of recent years, but they provided some excellent racing, which was maintained to the last day. Magdalen retained the headship of the river, and were not pressed quite so hard yesterday as was the case on some previous afternoons. Their second crew was smart; whilst New College II shared with Worcester the honour of scoring the highest possible number of bumps — six.

  In the third division yesterday, Hertford paddled up first, Lincoln being early bumped by Wadham. This was the only bump recorded, although Keble II only just escaped Christ Church II, after a fine race. Pembroke went to the head of the second division by bumping Corpus at the New Cut. University went down yet another place at the instance of St. John II; whilst Oriel never had much chance with Worcester, who caught them at the Gut. Keble escaped Exeter by three-quarters of a length. Queen's made short work of Balliol II, but Merton finished their distance ahead of Hertford.

  As already mentioned, Magdalen were never in real danger of losing the headship to St. John's. The latter had to go all the way to escape Christ Church, who at one time overlapped, but missed their bump through steering wide, and St. John's reached home first by three yards. Balliol rowed up at their leisure, but there was a good race between Trinity and Magdalen II, the latter effecting their object at the New College barge. The New College crews put up an exciting tussle, and the first only escaped by less than a quarter of a length. Christ Church II were caught by Brasenose after a gruelling race.

• In other news ... [1913]

  Monarch: George V

  Prime Minister: H. H. Asquith (Liberal)

  Mon 10 Feb

  News reaches London of the failure of Capt. Scott's 1912 polar expedition

  Thu 13 Feb

  Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama, declares the independence of Tibet from Qing dynasty China

  Tue 18 Feb

  Mexican Revolution: President Francisco I. Madero and Vice President Jose Maria Pino Suarez are forced to resign. Pedro Lascurain serves as president for less than an hour, before General Victoriano Huerta, leader of the coup, takes office.

  Wed 19 Feb

  Suffragette arson attack on a house being built for David Lloyd George near Walton Heath Golf Club. Emmeline Pankhurst (in a speech in Cardiff this evening) claims to have incited this and other incidents.

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